Heritage bosses bullied staff, investigators told

The executives, who were based in the retail department, have been suspended for six weeks due to "alleged misconduct" that is being investigated both internally and by an outside body.

Bosses at the government-run organisation stressed that the suspensions were not linked to mass suspensions in the city council's property conservation department, which is currently under investigation by police and auditors Deloitte for its handling of statutory repairs notices. At least 15 people, including senior management, are suspended there following the probe into alleged fraud.

An inside source claimed that at least three employees in the retail department of Historic Scotland had resigned due to being bullied by senior staff and others had requested transfers to different areas.

The suspended pair, a man and a woman who are believed to work in the Newcraighall office, were told they were under investigation at the end of April.

Their department looks after gift shops and outlets run by Historic Scotland.

Police are not involved in the probe and there are no financial reasons behind the suspensions.

The source, who asked not to be named, said: "Three junior employees have resigned due to bullying. They had to sign exit forms when they left and they all marked down that bullying had been the cause. There have been a number of complaints within the department and some say there is a degree of favouritism. People feel they have been treated unfairly and often were left in tears."

Staff have been warned that they face disciplinary action if they talk about the reasons behind the suspensions.

A spokeswoman for Historic Scotland said: "This matter is under investigation. An external investigator has been appointed to take this matter forward and we hope to resolve this as soon as possible.

"I can confirm that two senior members of staff were suspended at the end of April pending an internal investigation into alleged misconduct."